Hebdo’s ancestry
London Mihir Bose: The debate about whether Charlie Hebdo’s journalists went too far needs to consider how the magazine came into being. It got its present name after its predecessor, L’Hebdo Hara-Kiri, was banned by the French government in November 1970. This was because after the death of Charles de Gaulle in his village of Colombey, the magazine published a front cover which read: Ball Tragique A Colombey 1 Mort (Tragic Ball at Colombey, 1 Dead). After the ban the magazine renamed itself Charlie Hebdo, a title which was itself an impertinent reference to De Gaulle.
The Times
Oldest animal
Lanchashire David Bryant: The world’s oldest living animal is certainly not Jonathan, the giant tortoise. That title belongs to a marine bivalve, the arctic cyprine Artica islandica, which is native to the North Atlantic and shows exceptional longevity. In 1868 a live specimen off Iceland was 373 years old. This was easily surpassed a few years ago when one was dated at 507 years.
The Daily Telegraph
Silence isn’t golden
Vienna John Doherty: Silence during classical concerts is a modern convention. Mozart revelled in feedback. After the near-continuous clapping during the premiere of his Paris Symphony, he wrote: “I was so delighted I bought myself an ice cream, prayed a rosary as I had pledged and went home.”
The Times
